The “Networking” Part of Network Marketing
As a business, you know that networking is a crucial part of your marketing strategy and, if done right, helps you connect with potential clients and customers. In today’s digital world, where the internet has permeated every aspect of our lives, it only makes sense that when it comes to building relationships with new audiences, there are numerous ways to do so. We’ve outlined a few different kinds of networking, but we believe in adding value to your network. These additional avenues can help build your community through word-of-mouth referrals or lead generation in some instances. But what about those occasions when you need to make connections? What is happening under the hood to effectively promote your products or services? Here is how to find opportunities that will increase your reach and impact within your target audience.
Building Relationships Through Social Media
Building Relationships Through Social Media
Social media is becoming increasingly important as online platforms become increasingly popular tools for connecting with people who would otherwise have never known about them online. With Facebook alone being the most prominent social site out there (with over 2 billion users), the platform is constantly evolving – meaning that people who post on their profiles are likely to go viral on Twitter and LinkedIn in the future! There is no denying that social media marketing is one of those buzzwords used everywhere, from billboards to TV commercials and even social media ads. While this may seem straightforward to get yourself onto someone else’s radar, it takes a lot of work to generate organic traffic from these types of pages. To put into perspective, Facebook alone has more than 200 million daily active users (source). That’s like trying to hit two basketballs with 12 pins, let alone trying to see where everyone else stands! So how does social media benefit businesses? For example, research shows that 90% of consumers purchase something from companies they follow on social media! Businesses should use social media to improve brand awareness and create an experience of increased sales. And as far back as 2012, Instagram saw 6 billion monthly users (source). Since then, other sites such as YouTube, Pinterest and Snapchat have become staples of any social media strategy. Using social media to link your website has long been a great way to increase exposure. It is especially true when it comes to SEO. If a company posts content on its website and engages prospects through social media, it can ensure that many more qualified leads visit its homepage when searching for keywords related to its business name. Now that is not bad news, as you’re still gaining visibility, but there are more ways to go beyond simply posting articles and engaging directly with potential customers. It’s also worth pointing out that while you should aim to engage with prospects, you shouldn’t be doing that exclusively. You don’t want your prospective leads spending hours scrolling through Facebook to see whether they’re interested in your product or service. Instead, it would be best to give them a reason to interact with your page. A simple example of this could be uploading videos on any given day. Not only will creating video content help build trust with your prospects, but the use of visual elements can also act as an incentive to click through to a landing page where more information could be provided and eventually convert into a lead.
Building Relational Content Campaigns On LinkedIn
Building Relational Content Campaigns On LinkedIn
While most B2B businesses use their websites to drive awareness and sales, some brands have successfully generated traffic through personal recommendations by reaching out to friends and acquaintances. However, one of the biggest pitfalls is that people often don’t reply and instead delete all contact information. Why? Well, they’re uncomfortable sharing personal data such as email addresses or phone numbers in exchange for free goods (source)! While there is nothing wrong with taking the time to offer freebies, there are plenty of individuals willing to accept the opportunity, especially on online platforms which allow direct communication between buyers and sellers. When targeting specific demographics, it’s constructive to segment your list into relevant groups who might be interested in something related to your business. Who better to ask for permission to share and utilize their mailing lists than your own? Many experts recommend leveraging LinkedIn Pulse and a weekly update sent directly to subscribers (source). By using this method, you’re giving members an easy way to receive updates about how their peers are doing and what they’re looking into. Once you start seeing strong engagement rates, consider partnering up with individuals that fit perfectly with your ideal customer. Your prospect’s needs will likely align with those relevant to your industry, giving you the advantage of delivering preciously what your market wants. Then continue conversations by introducing special offers to encourage loyalty. Let’s face it; your current employees are probably inundated with emails and calls daily, so they aren’t thinking about you anymore. Plus, it’s easier to sit around waiting for someone to call back than to take action, so you should consider offering incentives to keep your team motivated to respond.
Building Relationship Through Email Marketing
Building Relationship Through Email Marketing
As mentioned earlier, email marketing provides businesses with a quick and efficient way to communicate with their own contacts. However, emails provide a relatively small percentage of overall conversions with 60% of marketers reporting that this was their favorite form of correspondence to use (source). After mentioning that, email marketing offers certain advantages to businesses in terms of outreach. First, if someone opens a piece of email in addition to sending another email, chances are they’ll never unsubscribe later on. Second, recipients in general are highly susceptible to spamming and phishing attacks because each time they open their spam folder to check who’s reached out from whom, there is an extra chance it could turn into a scam. Third, emails are notoriously short, giving recipients a nice amount of time to read them before deciding whether to act on them. Lastly, email is much more accessible for anyone willing to learn how to craft an effective message to send across an inbox! Most of us hate opening individual emails and wasting money on unwanted ads. Fortunately, email marketing allows multiple organizations to come together without having to worry too much about one single recipient. Because of this, I think it’s safe to say that email marketing is a key driver in helping small businesses gain attention from both sides of the pond! No matter the type of audience, either B2C or B2B, email marketing is a major tool in expanding a brand’s reach in any field.
Building Customer Relationships Through Direct Mail At Walmart
Building Customer Relationships Through Direct Mail At Walmart
As mentioned earlier, email marketing gives businesses a quick and efficient way to communicate with their contacts. However, emails provide a relatively small percentage of overall conversions, with 60% of marketers reporting that this was their favourite form of correspondence (source) after mentioning that email marketing offers certain advantages to businesses in terms of outreach. First, if someone opens a piece email in addition to sending another email, chances are they’ll never unsubscribe later on. Second, recipients are generally highly susceptible to spamming and phishing attacks because each time they open their spam folder to check who’s reached out from whom, there is an extra chance it could become a scam. Third, emails are notoriously short, giving recipients enough time to read them before deciding to act on them. Lastly, email is much more accessible for anyone willing to learn how to craft a compelling message to send across an inbox! Most of us hate opening individual emails and wasting money on unwanted ads. Fortunately, email marketing allows multiple organizations to come together without having to worry too much about one single recipient. Because of this, I think it’s safe to say that email marketing is crucial in helping small businesses gain attention from both sides of the pond! No matter the type of audience, either B2C or B2B, email marketing is an essential tool in expanding a brand’s reach in any field.
Building Loyalty Programs
Building Loyalty Programs
Retailers use many ways to incentivize shoppers, but I love tracking points. They help you measure the success of your programs and reward repeat buyers. Tracking points are prizes such as gift certificates or vouchers for redeeming your products. Stores also offer a rewards program to existing customers and even give a limited number of entries into a contest to entice members for more entries. A point system works wonders because shoppers feel more compelled to buy your items once you begin promoting your brand consistently through your promotional campaigns. How do I track loyalty? Use apps such as MyPoints and Reward Points. Track activities like online shopping, signing up for events, watching videotapes or attending live webinars. Keep track of other activities you deem essential to running your company, like bookkeeping, payroll and HR. As with any other activity, record everything – don’t forget to add notes and photos to your records!
Building Trust Through Community Engagement
Building Trust Through Community Engagement
Incorporating others in your niche is a great way to get feedback from different angles. Whether you partner with influencers to launch events, use affiliate links to promote upcoming products or hold contests to collect funds, bringing in fellow believers is always a good idea to bring the needle in. 70% of marketers agree that incorporating trusted persons is critical to growing their brand (source). One of the keys here is ensuring that you’re working closely with others you respect. Even if you’re selling home furnishings, don’t expect immediate praise and appreciation from random passersby. Instead, focus on providing insight and advice rather than encouraging followers to participate in a giveaway. Always remember that the goal isn’t necessarily to win but to attract positive reviews, which means taking feedback seriously. Ultimately, establishing a dialogue with others is one of the most crucial parts of marketing, as this will help strengthen your brand’s reputation while simultaneously solidifying your following. Never underestimate the power of building relationships with others to foster long-term customer relationships and boost conversion. Be mindful not to push them away prematurely or negatively affect relationship quality when building your brand identity. Overcoming challenges that arise during this process and continuing the conversation with your audiences will pay off for years to
